Dental Cleanings with Houston Braces

You know the importance of regular visits to our South Houston dentist to keep teeth clean and healthy. This is especially true if you're wearing Houston dental braces. Not only is it easy for food to get stuck in and around the brackets and wires, but it’s just as easy to miss those hard-to-reach spots during at-home brushing and flossing. Over time, plaque can develop and cavities can form, which is why those with braces need to maintain regular dental cleanings with our Houston dentist.

Dental Cleanings While Wearing Houston Braces 

Dental cleanings with Houston braces aren’t much different than regular cleanings with our Houston family dentist. We’ll do a brief oral exam to ensure all brackets and wires are intact and survey the overall health of the teeth and gums. When we begin brushing and polishing teeth with braces, our South Houston family dentist will place extra focus on the spaces between the brackets and wires where plaque and decay-causing bacteria may be building. 

Our Houston dentist’s dental cleaning with braces typically follows these steps:

1. Oral Exam: this identifies any obvious issues, such as large cavities, irritation, or tooth damage before the other steps of the dental cleaning can occur.
2. Tooth Scaling: our South Houston dentist or dental hygienist will use a small metal tool to remove plaque and tartar buildup along and in between the teeth, paying special care to braces brackets.
3. Tooth Polishing: using a rounded, rubber-capped toothbrush and gritty toothpaste, we will deeply clean and polish the teeth around the brackets and wires.
4. Flossing and Flouride Treatment: finally, we’ll floss the teeth by weaving the floss under the Houston braces wires and between brackets. We may also include a fluoride rinse treatment to strengthen teeth in between dental cleanings.

Houston Dental Braces Oral Hygiene

Our South Houston dentist has some tips for maintaining proper oral hygiene during Houston braces treatment:

• Brush after every meal: pack a travel toothbrush and toothpaste in your purse or backpack so you have it with you at all times. Since food can easily get stuck in and around your Houston braces, you should brush your teeth every time you’ve finished eating to remove those food particles and prevent decay.
• Floss regularly: new crevices and spaces may develop as your teeth shift into their correct position, creating breeding grounds for decay-causing bacteria. Regular flossing can aid in removing food particles and plaque from the gum line and between teeth. 
• Avoid certain foods: overly sticky, sugary, or crunchy foods can get stuck to the different parts of your Houston braces, leading to damage or slowing treatment. 

Our South Houston Dentist Is Here for Your Dental Cleaning!

Here at Centra Dental, your smile is our top priority! If you’re wearing Houston braces (and even if you’re not!), we encourage you to maintain regular dental cleanings. Our kind and compassionate South Houston family dentist is here to address all your oral health needs in a comfortable setting designed to make you feel at ease, so schedule an appointment to see us as soon as possible!